"Helping in a meaningful way to meet the needs of the babies and their families as well as the NICU staff are my reasons for wanting to volunteer. Cuddling these precious little ones brings me complete joy, peace and satisfaction."

Volunteer Highlight

Millennium Brooklyn High School Students

Who the volunteers are:

Millennium Brooklyn High School was founded in 2011 and will see its first graduating class in 2015.

As part of the experiential curriculum for which the school is known, 12th grade students participate in internships at various placements throughout the city during their school day.

Seven members of the senior class serve our Hospital community twice a week, in a variety of areas.

What the Millennium volunteers do:

All seven students have an interest in healthcare professions; they volunteer in the Ambulatory Surgery Recovery area, Ambulatory Medical Clinic, Ambulatory Pediatric Clinic, Pharmacy, and the Coronary Care Unit.

Two of the students have previously volunteered at NYM during their junior year of high school, and are returning to us for their senior internship.

What they have to say:

According to the students, the program has been a success!

"It is satisfying to me to see the nurses and patients happy that I’m there."
–Will Zhong, Ambulatory Surgery

"I love volunteering because the nurses really showed me the ropes to
work with patients and took the time to train me well. It is a very
close unit, and they took me in." –Brandon Abrenica, CCU

"What I love about volunteering is that it opens new windows of
creativity for me and gives me hands-on experience for my future career
in medicine (I want to be a doctor). I play music for patients; I learn
to talk to different types of patients." –Ray-ven Hill, CCU

"Volunteering has allowed me to discover new future career options and improve my social skills, while positively affecting the life of another. It is genuinely great to volunteer, and by simply interacting with the patients, you can really make a difference in their life." –Tanacia Mitchell, Ambulatory Pediatrics

Previous Volunteer Highlights

Eva De Lappe, CHF-VIP Volunteer

Who Eva is:

A Nevada native and recent Harvard graduate who moved to Brooklyn last year.

A creative writing instructor and former radio journalist in Western Alaska.

An applicant to post-baccalaureate premedical programs.

What Eva does at NYM:

She volunteers in the Congestive Heart Failure Volunteer Intervention Program and has given over 170 hours of service.

She talks to patients about caring for themselves after they go home, and she calls them on the phone to check in periodically after discharge.

She has helped the program to grow by serving as a trainer for other volunteers, by contributing to CHF materials used by volunteers, and by meeting with cardiology fellows to talk about the program.

What volunteering has taught her:

"Volunteering has confirmed my desire to change careers and become a physician. Every time I walk into the Hospital, I feel a surge of responsibility and energy. What I do is small, but I'm grateful to help people in an essential way."

"Most people hate hospitals, and an easy way to bond with patients is to acknowledge that fact. The easiest way is to treat them like people, not patients. I've enjoyed listening to their stories and sharing mine."

"The more specific information you can provide, the better. Giving the patient your undivided attention and speaking calmly, confidently and clearly goes a long way!"

"Each patient is supported by an entire infrastructure that often remains invisible--from the storage and equipment sanitizing rooms in the bowels of the building, to the 'bullet' pipes that carry medications from the pharmacy to the units, to the many men and women who stock supplies, refill oxygen tanks, fix broken machines, prepare food, deliver breakfast, clean floors, organize medications, lift patients, answer questions, and manage care plans--let alone those who apply science to prevent, diagnose, or treat a person's pain. I'm still amazed by the complex yet orderly way the Hospital coordinates people and systems to serve hundreds of patients--each with his or her own diagnosis, meal requirements, appointments, medications and sociological background--everyday."